OZZFEST 2003 JULY 24, 2003 DETROIT, MI

Climb aboard the crazy train for the one and only OzzFest descended upon us - eight years and still going strong, continuing to assault the senses and take the summer by storm.

The legendary festival featuring the latest and greatest acts of the heavy metal scene did not lose any steam when the caravan turned DTE Energy Music Theatre into a wild carnival July 24.

Fourteen hours of craziness galore with 20 bands, numerous side attractions and the Michigan sunshine, the only thing showing any wear at the end of the day were the exhausted fans.

As usual, the atmosphere was the main story. There was much to be seen. Enter "Never Never Land" and escape reality. This spectacle is as much about style as anything is, and there were many choices and many lines. Wall to wall people with 17,000 eager to experience something memorable.

First, it must be said that OzzFest has become a major marketing event. Vendor after vendor the booths surrounded a portion of the parking lot area and were ever present on the interior of the large grounds.

FYE offered autograph sessions with most bands in their tent, as did Jagemeister. Hot Topic was the official second stage sponsor and Playstation 2 had a demonstration stand.

Major League Baseball offered a batting cage and then there was the House Of The Damned and their dominatrix waiting. Not to be forgotten was the body painting with everyone seemingly eager to become a work of art (or an exhibitionist).

What a way to start the day!

Music began blaring from the opening stage at 9:15am. The mainstage mayhem ended near 11:00pm. Such is life in this modern version of the traveling circus that is annually the top grossing seasonal tour.

The second stage was moved to the parking lot this year and that made the entire proceedings a bit warm in the direct sunlight. An advantage was allowing the festival attendees to partake in the attractions offered while the music played in the background. The devoted clamored near the front but the majority wandered.

Most of these initial bands featured music that was nondescript and very similar in nature - youngsters trying to introduce themselves to a target audience with a "look" (and perhaps a memorable catchy song or two).

Their sets were limited to 15 minutes - that was all the time they had to make (and leave) an impression. A dozen bands played in quick succession before the co-headliners, Voivod and Cradle Of Filth took their 40-minute slots.

Of the newcomers striving to break through, Shadows Fall, Nothingface and Endo offered something indicating that they may become noteworthy as the "next big thing" to emerge from OzzFest.

Voivod, veterans of science-metal space art (that is a mouthful but this is one unique act that is hard to describe) recently revived their 19 year career with the addition of Jasonic on bass. Former Metallica and Flotsam & Jetsam member Jason Newsted seemed to enjoy a rebirth of sorts himself, playing with admired peers in the old school vein. He certainly was doing his part to keep the metal spirit alive while introducing impressive songs like "Tribal Convictions" to a new generation.

Opening with the song "Voivod" from the band's 1984 debut and cleverly mixing older material alongside tracks from their outstanding new self-titled comeback album, Snake, Piggy and Away joined Jasonic to quickly stake their claim as leading contenders for "band of the day."

Unquestionably Newsted, a Michigan native, was one of the individual stars in his homecoming. But more on that later.

Though only 3:30pm, darkness fell suddenly on the scene with the emergence of the dark lords themselves, Cradle Of Filth, to close out the warm up festivities.
A doom metal band of legendary proportions, the strains of their unique blend of horror and gloom satisfied their worshipping legion dressed in black with face paint in place. The attraction was evident and the show certainly left an impact unlike many of their predecessors.

The Datsuns kicked things into high gear on the main DTE pavilion at 4:30pm soon to be followed by heavyweights Chevelle, Marilyn Manson, Disturbed, Korn and the "Prince of Darkness" himself, Ozzy Osbourne.

It had become an emotional day for Osbourne, as his friend and associate of 23 years, current road manager Bob Thompson, was found dead in his Detroit area hotel room at approximately the same time the main stage music began.
But the show went on.

Chevelle, a trio of brothers, were OzzFest repeaters as they moved up from last year's second stage to a slot on the center stage. They received a good crowd response and warmed things for the "big four" main attractions soon to follow.

Marilyn Manson and Korn were both celebrating a decade of musical achievement. Crowned the new breed not that long ago they were now the seasoned veterans among the bands playing this day.
Manson used this to his advantage, pulling out tricks as only he knows how. Despite admittedly being on his best behavior since a 2001 Detroit OzzFest incident made him a "convicted felon"; Manson brought his top-notch stage show with supreme shock value.

The "Age Of Grotesque" was upon us musically and visually. Playing the new album almost in its entirety, Manson aimed to leave a lasting impression. The band was dressed entirely in black with Manson breaking out his Mickey Mouse ears and delivering his own version of Disneyland. It was still broad daylight and the entertainment was engaging.

Need more eye-opening sights? This pair of side attractions transformed into Siamese twin piano players, took center stage and proceeded to perform. And the music was matching in its high quality. Only "The Dope Show" and "The Beautiful People" emerged from the past Marilyn Manson history, but there was only limited time and it was used well to create memories.

With a pair of platinum albums under their belts, Chicago's Disturbed came on with all the force of a bulldozer. Playing their third OzzFest in four years, they were masters of their craft and frontman David Draiman used this to his advantage, prowling across the stage and holding the transfixed crowd in the palm of his hand.

He provided a dominant presence which was very powerful and menacing. Singles "Voices," "Liberate" and "Down With The Sickness" were among the many strong tracks that made fists raise high in the pavilion. Draiman urged the crowd to "show your horns" in reference to the longtime heavy metal hand tradition and re-christened Clarkston "Detroit Metal City."

On this day he was right. Detroit has always been one of the rare tour stops in which the OzzFest extravaganza is forced to book back-to-back dates due to public demand. This night was only the first and it was nearing the end.

Korn opened with the gravel-throated wake up call of vocalist Jonathan Davis asking, "Are you ready?" before kicking into the heaviest guitar sound heard yet. The frenetic pace continued as the band attempted to fit all the quality material from four platinum albums into a 50 minute set.

Fresh off the "Pop Sux!" tour (with Disturbed) and a date in Saginaw, the promotion of last year's "Follow The Leader" album continued. Veterans of the Family Values Tour, Korn, with focal point Davis wearing his traditional kilt attire and playing the bagpipes, brought their crossover appeal to many fresh faces in their inaugural OzzFest appearance.

Playing the fast and furious closing section of Metallica's "One," which every member of the audience knew by heart, was a clever way to gain approval. Korn delivered.

As the sun set and darkness was upon all, the crowd was still anxiously awaiting the man who brought this lunacy to close the day - Ozzy.

Longevity in the music business depends on staying relevant and producing songs that the audience never gets sick of hearing time and time again. Almost 35 years into his magical musical journey, Osbourne continues to have that secret of success mastered. The iconic Ozzy carries the heavy metal torch as the patriarch for the genre, even at 54 years old.

No introduction was needed - the usual comedy - themed intro film was out. Who needed that with "The Osbournes" reality MTV show introducing the other side of this lovable loon to everyone? A bygone tradition not really missed.
When it comes to Ozzy the music is really all that matters. Timeless classic after classic was delivered with a punch and voice as strong as ever, which was quite surprising considering he missed a week earlier on the tour due to laryngitis.

There were no signs of Kelly or Jack but wife Sharon was present in spirit when Ozzy acknowledged the brains behind the OzzFest empire and when he informed the crowd that Sharon was recently declared free of the cancer that she'd been courageously battling for the past year.

Ozzy has long been a hero to many and proved his personal fortitude to persevere with this show.
Offering a sober moment of silence to announce Thompson's death to the crowd was his only show of mourning. Always being the showman, Ozzy did not let this tragedy affect his performance. Once a madman, now just wild onstage.

The crowd loved every minute of his antics. Running to and fro and frequently dousing almost everyone with his water canons, ceiling sprinklers and buckets. A "super soaker" he is. Some traditions die hard. It was obvious that Ozzy was having the usual fun.

A blast from the past was delivered with the vast majority of songs predating the age of many in the audience. The historical Black Sabbath era (1970-79) was featured in abundance with seven songs and his debut solo outing from 1981, "Blizzard Of Ozz," had five more aired.

Opening with "War Pigs," Ozzy bucked tradition by taking the stage first, running on long before the rest of his band was in place. He was the main attraction, after all.

Sixteen songs were played in the 90-minute set. Nothing from his latest studio release, "Down To Earth," but this was simply the "Essential Ozzy Osbourne" show - exactly what the fans wanted.

Ozzy promised and brought "only the best" to his supporters and that included assembling a "supergroup" consisting of Newsted (pulling double duty- a pair of shows every OzzFest) on bass, drummer Mike Bordin (Faith No More) and the guitar hero of this millennium, Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society). Wylde's 15-minute guitar solo climaxed with a stirring rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" and proved his metal.

Ozzy introduced "Road To Nowhere" as the song describing his life and evolved into a high point, as was the resurrection of his harmonica for the older than old Sabbath track "The Wizard."

As always, the sensation that "Crazy Train" provides still resounds with brilliance after all these years.

Without question the entire event proved to be an unmatched experience that is about so much more than just the music. This festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape.

Featuring a multitude of larger than life media personalities all sharing the spotlight, including Manson, Draiman, Davis, Newsted, Wylde and the gracious host Osbourne, it was a day full of stars.

With the OzzFest continuing its ride there is always a unique brand of fun to be had. No sign of going off the rails yet. Wonder what 2004 has in store?

You are forewarned. Be prepared.